Providing a regional channel in a digital broadcast environment

ABSTRACT

A method and system of broadcasting a regional television channel to a user. A digital subscriber line access multiplex (DSLAM) receives a broadcast of multicast channels intended for delivery to the user. The multicast channels include national channels and a regional channel. The DSLAM broadcasts the multicast channels to the user and receives a regional channel control signal specifying a broadcast during a specified period of time of the regional channel instead of a national channel previously scheduled to be broadcast to the user during the specified period of time. The DSLAM switches the multicast channels broadcasted to the user during the specified period of time from the national channel to the regional channel such that the regional channel is in a specific channel slot of the national channel during the specified period of time during broadcasting the multicast channels to the user.

This application is a continuation application claiming priority to Ser.No. 13/739,333, filed Jan. 11, 2013, which is a continuation of Ser. No.11/782,724, filed Jul. 25, 2007, U.S. Pat. No. 8,387,090, issued Feb.26, 2013.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a method and system for providing regionalchannels in a digital broadcasting environment, particularly but notexclusively in an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) environment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The provision of a television service over internet protocol (IP) isknown as IPTV and utilizes a protocol known as multicast. Multicast is aprotocol to address a group of addresses in order to send data from oneor more sources to a multitude of addresses. This means that only asingle stream broadcast is required regardless of how many receivers themulticast is addressed to.

An example of a multicast transmission and reception system is shown inFIG. 1. The diagram shows the relative locations of HeadEnd Equipment100, Middleware Equipment 102 and Customer Premise equipment 104.HeadEnd and Middleware Equipment 100 and 102 are connected to CustomerPremise Equipment 104 by any appropriate network 106 which terminates ata digital subscriber line access multiplex (DSLAM) 108. Thecommunication to Customer Premise Equipment is then effected via a PSTNlink 110.

HeadEnd equipment 100 may include Encoders, Transcoders etc. and means(either via satellite, cable or any other appropriate manner) tobroadcast the multicast that is produced. The multicast comprises asingle stream for each of the different television channels that may berequired to be transmitted to Customer Premise Equipment 104.

Middleware Equipment 102 is found at the internet service provider forexample, may include video on demand (VOD), unicast capabilities, timeshift TV, soft switching, voice over IP (VoIP) and Network PersonalVideo Recording (NPVR). Middleware Equipment 102 is responsible forproviding services to Customer Premise Equipment 104 as described above.

Customer Premise Equipment 104 includes a Residential Gateway (GW) 112that is connected to other equipment, including a PC 114, a telephone116 and a Set Top Box 118. Set Top Box 118 is connected to a televisionmonitor 120 and can provide television programs to both the televisionmonitor and PC 114 and any other monitor in the Customer PremiseEquipment 104.

Broadcasters will send the national television channels in theirmulticast. Regional channels may be introduced at locations closer tothe user, for example at Middleware 102 or DSLAM 108. Regional channelsare channels which are relevant for a particular region. In the pastregional encoders and regional channel inputs have been used to provideregional television channels to the user (customer). The drawback withthis approach is that additional encoders are required at the regionallocations. In fact for each different region additional encoding andtransmitting equipment is required. Alternatively additional equipmentis required to feed a regional stream to a DSLAM to provide theseregional channels. Again this requires additional equipment in eachregion. This also means that some if not all, of the controls ofregional channels are managed regionally, which has both advantages anddisadvantages.

One object of the present invention is to provide a regional televisionchannel service and method in the IPTV environment which at leastovercomes some of the drawbacks associated with the prior art.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a regional TVmethod and apparatus without additional equipment than that alreadyexisting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to the method and system fordelivering a regional television channel to a user.

According to a first embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided a method of delivering a regional television channel to a userover an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service comprising the stepsof forming a multicast of channels intended for delivery to a user eachchannel having a specific channel slot, the multicast of channelsincluding at least one regional channel corresponding to one of themulticast channels, broadcasting the multicast channels to the userthrough a regional gateway, forming a regional channel control signalfor scheduling and requesting broadcast of the at least one regionalchannel instead of the corresponding one of the multicast channels,transmitting the regional channel control signal to the regionalgateway, and in accordance with the regional channel control signal, atthe required time, switching the regional gateway to the at least oneregional channel instead of the corresponding one of the multicastchannels such that the regional channel is in the specific channel slotof the corresponding one of the multicast channels.

According to a second embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided a method of broadcasting a regional television channel to auser over an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service from a regionallocation comprising the steps of receiving a multicast of channelsintended for delivery to a user each channel having a specific channelslot, the multicast of channels including at least one regional channelcorresponding to one of the multicast channels, broadcasting themulticast channels to the user, receiving a regional channel controlsignal for scheduling and requesting broadcast of the at least oneregional channel instead of the corresponding one of the multicastchannels, in accordance with the regional channel control signal, at therequired time, switching the regional gateway to the at least oneregional channel instead of the corresponding one of the multicastchannels such that the regional channel is in the specific channel slotof the corresponding one of the multicast channels.

According to a third embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided a method of generating a control signal for controlling thebroadcast of regional television channel to a user over an InternetProtocol Television (IPTV) service, wherein the service is in the formof a multicast of channels, each channel having a specific channel slot,the multicast of channels including at least one regional channelcorresponding to one of the multicast channels and the channels beingbroadcast to a user through a regional gateway comprising the steps offorming a regional channel control signal for scheduling and requestingbroadcast of the at least one regional channel instead of thecorresponding one of the multicast channels, transmitting the regionalchannel control signal to the regional gateway, and wherein the regionalchannel control signal, at the required time, causes switching of theregional gateway to the at least one regional channel instead of thecorresponding one of the multicast channels such that the regionalchannel is in the specific channel slot of the corresponding one of themulticast channels.

According to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided a system for delivering a regional television channel to a userover an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service comprising means forforming a multicast of channels intended for delivery to a user eachchannel having a specific channel slot, the multicast of channelsincluding at least one regional channel corresponding to one of themulticast channels, means for broadcasting the multicast channels to theuser through a regional gateway, means for forming a regional channelcontrol signal for scheduling and requesting broadcast of the at leastone regional channel instead of the corresponding one of the multicastchannels, means for transmitting the regional channel control signal tothe regional gateway, and in accordance with the regional channelcontrol signal, at the required time, means for switching the regionalgateway to the at least one regional channel instead of thecorresponding one of the multicast channels such that the regionalchannel is in the specific channel slot of the corresponding one of themulticast channels.

According to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided a system for broadcasting a regional television channel to auser over an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service from a regionallocation comprising means for receiving a multicast of channels intendedfor delivery to a user each channel having a specific channel slot, themulticast of channels including at least one regional channelcorresponding to one of the multicast channels, means for broadcastingthe multicast channels to the user, means for receiving a regionalchannel control signal for scheduling and requesting broadcast of the atleast one regional channel instead of the corresponding one of themulticast channels, in accordance with the regional channel controlsignal, at the required time, means for switching the regional gatewayto the at least one regional channel instead of the corresponding one ofthe multicast channels such that the regional channel is in the specificchannel slot of the corresponding one of the multicast channels.

According to a sixth embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided a device for broadcasting a regional television channel to auser over an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service from a regionallocation comprising means for receiving a multicast of channels intendedfor delivery to a user each channel having a specific channel slot, themulticast of channels including at least one regional channelcorresponding to one of the multicast channels, means for broadcastingthe multicast channels to the user, means for receiving a regionalchannel control signal for scheduling and requesting broadcast of the atleast one regional channel instead of the corresponding one of themulticast channels, in accordance with the regional channel controlsignal, at the required time, means for switching the regional gatewayto the at least one regional channel instead of the corresponding one ofthe multicast channels such that the regional channel is in the specificchannel slot of the corresponding one of the multicast channels.

According to a seventh embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided a device for generating a control signal for controlling thebroadcast of regional television channel to a user over an InternetProtocol Television (IPTV) service, wherein the service is in the formof a multicast of channels, each channel having a specific channel slot,the multicast of channels including at least one regional channelcorresponding to one of the multicast channels and the channels beingbroadcast to a user through a regional gateway comprising means forforming a regional channel control signal for scheduling and requestingbroadcast of the at least one regional channel instead of thecorresponding one of the multicast channels, means for transmitting theregional channel control signal to the regional gateway, and wherein theregional channel control signal, at the required time, causes means forswitching of the regional gateway to the at least one regional channelinstead of the corresponding one of the multicast channels such that theregional channel is in the specific channel slot of the correspondingone of the multicast channels.

According to an eighth embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided a computer program comprising instructions for delivering aregional television channel to a user over an Internet ProtocolTelevision (IPTV) service when the program is executed on a computercomprising the steps of forming a multicast of channels intended fordelivery to a user each channel having a specific channel slot, themulticast of channels including at least one regional channelcorresponding to one of the multicast channels, broadcasting themulticast channels to the user through a regional gateway, forming aregional channel control signal for scheduling and requesting broadcastof the at least one regional channel instead of the corresponding one ofthe multicast channels, transmitting the regional channel control signalto the regional gateway, and in accordance with the regional channelcontrol signal, at the required time, switching the regional gateway tothe at least one regional channel instead of the corresponding one ofthe multicast channels such that the regional channel is in the specificchannel slot of the corresponding one of the multicast channel.

Further embodiments of the invention are provided in the appendeddependent claims.

The advantages of the present invention are that a new protocol existsbetween HeadEnd Equipment 100 and DSLAM 108 which enables all thebroadcast channels to be provided from the HeadEnd Equipment andselection to be made on regional bases at Middleware Equipment 102. Inaddition, the user has the ability to select the regional channel theuser would prefer to watch, for example, if this is not the user's localregional channel. Another advantage is that the present invention doesnot require additional hardware and instead reorganizes the channels(that are all transmitted from HeadEnd Equipment 100) in accordance toindividual user needs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made by way of example to the accompanyingdrawings, in which

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a general IPTV system;

FIG. 2 is a IPTV system in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a table showing how the channels are changed for the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing details of a new protocol which existsin accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a table used at the HeadEnd Equipment in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 is a table used at the DSLAM end of the equipment in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the protocol description in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 8 is a table for extension of the service provided in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the method steps in accordance with thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 2 shows the IPTV system for delivery of regional televisionchannels in accordance to the present invention. Equivalent equipment isfound at the HeadEnd 200, Middleware Equipment 202 and the CustomerPremises End 204 similar to what was previously described with referenceto FIG. 1. The HeadEnd Equipment 200 and Middleware Equipment 202 areconnected via Networks 206, DSLAM 208 and PSTN connection 210 to thecustomer premises. As previously indicated Customer Premises Equipment204 includes equipment such as PC 214, Phone 216, Set Top Box 218 andtelevision monitor 220. In addition to the standard equipment of an IPTVsystem, the present invention includes two additional features which areused to adapt Multicast 222 transmitting from HeadEnd equipment 200.These two new additional elements are a Switch Regional Channel Server(SRC Server) 224 which is found in Middleware Equipment 202 and connectsinto Network 206; and a Switch Regional Channel Client (SRC Client) 226found in DSLAM 208. The function of SRC Server 224 and SRC Client 226will now be described in greater detail.

Multicast 222 broadcast from the HeadEnd Equipment 200 will include aplurality of channels. Each channel will generally have a name and achannel slot on which it is broadcast. For example in France themulticast will include a plurality of channels for example TF1, TF2, TF3and many others. TF3 may have timeslots during which a regional versionof TF3 may be broadcast. There may be a plurality of different regionalTF3 channels for many different areas of France, for example region 1may relate to Nice, region 2 may relate to Alsace and region 3 mayrelate to Toulouse.

At certain times the broadcaster may decide to switch from the nationalTF3 channel to broadcast a regional TF3 channel. This may be to provideregional advertising or regional programming as the case may be. Forexample there may be a number of regional football games and eachregional area may wish to watch the regional game. Also advertisers maywish to target regional customers at specific times of the day, forexample a pizza delivery company may wish to target regional customersan hour before lunch or dinner.

In accordance with the present invention, Multicast 222 broadcast fromHeadEnd Equipment 200 may include not only the national channel of TF3,but also all possible regional channels for TF3 and any other channelwhere regional television may be anticipated or provided. Multicast 222of multiple channels is broadcast and received at DSLAM 208 in anyappropriate manner.

FIG. 3 shows a table 300 having a row showing Channel Names 302 and arow 304 showing the received Channel Number or slot on the DSLAM for thecorresponding Channel Names. At the DSLAM if a regional channel isrequired to be broadcast to the end-users, the channel number for theregional channel is converted to replace the national channel number forthe period of time over which the regional channel is to be transmitted.The new channel numbers or slots from the transmission end of the DSLAMare shown in row 306 of table 300. At a time when a regional broadcastis happening it can be seen that the new channel slot for TF3 national(NAT) has become 100 and the new channel slot for TF3 region 1 (R1) (thelocation of the user in question) is now channel 3. The regional channelhas thus temporarily taken the slot of the national channel. Thisprovides an advantage for the user that when a regional program isavailable, the user does not need to search for the right channel toview that regional program, instead the regional program replaces thenormal national transmission for that particular channel. In the case ofadvertising, the user will be unaware of the fact that targeted andspecific advertising material in the breaks between television programsis being received. This is because, certain advertising material may besent at certain times in accordance with advertisers requirements for aparticular region. As will be described in greater detail below there isalso a record kept of the number of users at any time watching aspecific channel to assist with the scheduling of regional advertisingor regional television programs to a time when the maximum number ofusers are watching.

As previously mentioned, the manner in which the regional channel andthe national channel are exchanged at specific periods of time aredependent upon a new protocol which is called the Switch RegionalChannel Protocol (SRCP).

FIG. 4 shows in more detail how the SRCP operates and makes the changesillustrated above. SRC Server 224 of FIG. 2 is shown at the Middlewarepoint in the system, however it could be found at different places, forexample at the HeadEnd or at the DSLAM as is appropriate for variouscircumstances. SRC server 400 is shown in FIG. 4 and includes an SRCPserver 402, an SRC DSLAM Table 404 and a Scheduler 406. SRC Server 400sends and receives commands 408 over Network 410. Commands 408 in thisinstance are received by DSLAM 412. The DSLAM supports the SRC Client(previously identified in FIG. 2) 414. SRC Client 414 includes a ChannelTable 416 and a Proxy Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) 418. TheSRCP allows a central point to request DSLAM 412 to switch to regionalchannel (IGMP port) for a specific period of time for the end-userconnected to a given national channel (for example TF3 as describedabove). As all the regional channels and national channels are multicastat all time on the network to DSLAM 412 from the HeadEnd Equipment it isat the DSLAM that the decision is made to which channel to communicateand onward broadcast to the user. This choice at DSLAM 412 is controlledby the SRCP. SRCP server 402 manages the protocol to control and demandwhen all requests should be sent to DSLAM 412. SRC DSLAM Table 404includes all the information on how to switch a channel from one slot toanother. The scheduler is composed of an agenda to launch the action perhour or day as appropriate.

Referring now to FIG. 5, SRC DSLAM Table 500 is shown in more detail.The table includes a number of columns. These columns include Location502, DSLAM Identifier (IP Address) 504, Main Channel (IGMP Address) 506,Regional Channel (IGMP Address) 508, Start Session Time and Duration ofSession 510 and On Line Switch Status 512. Table 500 has been completedfor two locations, namely Nice 514 and Strasbourg 516 where the regionalchannel is TF3 Nice and Strasbourg respectively. The broadcaster wishesto transfer to the regional channel in each case at 11 h30 for aduration of twenty minutes. In each case the national TF3 channel isreplaced with respective channel TF3 Nice and TF3 Strasbourg. The fulldetails of all IP Addresses and IGMP Addresses are not shown but thenature and format of these will be understood by the persons skilled inthe art. The table as previously indicated will be sent in thecommunication between the SRC server and SRC client. The table will beused by the DSLAM on receipt to transfer channel slot 3 on the DSLAMoutput from TF3 national to TF3 Nice or Strasbourg as appropriate at 11h30 for twenty minutes. The on line switch status on/off will be set asappropriate depending on whether the regional channel is off or on.

Referring now to FIG. 6, SRC DSLAM client table 600 is shown. Table 600includes a Main Channel (IGMP Address) 602, a Regional Channel (IGMPAddress) 604; a Start Session Time and Duration Session 606 and again anOn Line Switch Status 608. The content of this table will be made up inaccordance with the content of the earlier presented SRC DSLAM tables astransmitted from the server.

In order for the server and client to communicate effectively, therequests and answers as carried out in accordance with the SRC protocolare now described with reference to FIG. 7. The protocol is shown ingeneral as 700. Reference Numeral 702 shows an arrow indicating acommunication from Server to Client while the reference 704 shows anarrow indicating the direction of communication from Client to Server.The Server is the SRC Server and the Client is the DSLAM or SRC Clientin the DSLAM. The protocol commences with the server switch requestSCrequest. This request comprises the information related to MainChannel, Second channel, Start Time and Duration. The client answerswith an Accept SCrequest Switch that indicates the number of users(Nbuser) or Rejects the request (error code). If the request is acceptedand the number of users is below a certain threshold, the broadcastermay change the Switch Request to be a STOP Request which will bedescribed in more detail below. As previously indicated, the number ofusers is used by the broadcaster to determine whether there aresufficient viewers to justify broadcasting certain information oradvertisements or whatever.

If the SRC Server wishes to send a Stop request, the Stop request willbe sent in the from of a StopSC request which will include the samedetails as in the SCrequest. A client answer will be Accept-Stop requestand again indicates the number of users that apply.

As previously described there are possibilities that the user mayrequire a different regional channel than the one usually availablebased on the user's region. For example the user in Nice may prefer towatch the regional channel of Strasbourg. In these instances theprotocol uses the third identified description ((3) in FIG. 7). Here aClient request is sent to the Server subscribing to or requesting adifferent regional channel than that to which it would normally receive.This request is in the form of a Tableinfoquery. The server will thenanswer with an Accept-Tableinfoquery which will include the DSLAM Tableextension information. In the alternative, the server may for somereason or another, reject the request and send an error code with theDSLAM Table extension information again.

The request from the user which is transmitted to the DSLAM may be madevia any appropriate means for example the IP telephony link between theDSLAM and the user or any other appropriate means including e-mail, etc.Where such has been received at the Server, the SRC Server will generatean additional DSLAM Table extension 800 as is shown in FIG. 8. SRC DSLAMTable extension 800 and the SRC DSLAM Table (shown in FIG. 5) areidentical with the exception of column 802. 802 the Mobile SubscriberISDN Number (MSISDN Number) is included. This indicates the number onwhich the user has called to request a variation in the regional channelwhich is transmitted to it. This enables the DSLAM to send over theMSISDN Channel between the user and the DSLAM, the requested alternativeregional channel in the form of a unicast as opposed to the multicast ofall other channels. If a user makes a request for a change to theregional channel or an additional regional channel, the user may becharged for on an independent basis.

The result of the above system and method is that the user receivesregional television over IPTV without the requirement of having separateencoders in regional locations. In addition, since the SRC DSLAM Tablesare generated at the Middleware Equipment, the local provider can havesome knowledge of the user requirement for the regional channel based onthe number of users that is sent back from the DSLAM. This enables theMiddleware ISP service providers to manage and control the advertisingand programming provider to the user in order to maximize the number ofusers to which the relevant material is broadcast. This may be achievedby statistical analysis of the times at which the regional channel isgenerally watched. In addition, the provision of requests for the userfor an alternative and/or additional regional channel means that peoplewho are away from home or living in a new environment may still watchtelevision programs that they enjoyed in the region from which theycame.

Referring now to FIG. 9, the main steps carried out by the method of theinvention are now described. In the first step 900, a multicast isgenerated and broadcast from the HeadEnd Equipment of the Broadcaster900. Thereafter in step 902 the Middleware Equipment under the controlof the ISP or other intermediary service provider generates an SRCServer control signal including the elements set out in FIG. 4. Theremote DSLAM receives both the multicast and the control signal in step904. The DSLAM then uses the control signal to convert channel numbersin accordance with FIG. 2 in step 906 so that the user is broadcast onthe regional channel rather than the national channel. At a certainpoint in time at the end of the duration in the SRC DSLAM Tables, forexample, the regional programming ends at step 908. The DSLAM reconvertschannel numbers to their original position in step 910 so that the userwill now view the national channel rather than the regional channel. TheDSLAM then returns to the position of step 902 where it is a waiting thereception of an SRC server control signal. The regional programming mayend at Step 908 due to the transmission of a Server SC Stop request aspreviously described.

The description has shown transmission of both the multicast and thecontrol signals from the SRC Server to only one DSLAM. However, it wouldbe appreciated that the same multicast and control signal could be sentto multiple DSLAM in the same region. In addition, both the middlewareand the head end equipment could be located in the same place and becontrolled by the same service providers. The service providersproviding the services of both multicast and regionalisation could beany relevant body. The customer premise equipment set out in the figuresand descriptions are shown only by way of example and may be replaced oraugmented with any other equipment.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described withreference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that variouschanges inform and detail may be made therein without departing from thespirit, and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of broadcasting a regional televisionchannel to a user, said method comprising: a digital subscriber lineaccess multiplex (DSLAM) receiving a broadcast of multicast channelsintended for delivery to the user, said multicast channels including aplurality of national channels and a first regional channel, saidmulticast channels having been broadcast simultaneously from a headendbeing received simultaneously by the DSLAM; said DSLAM broadcasting themulticast channels to the user; said DSLAM receiving, from a SwitchRegional Channel Server (SRC Server), a regional channel control signalspecifying a broadcast during a specified first period of time of thefirst regional channel instead of a first national channel previouslyscheduled to be broadcast to the user during the specified first periodof time; and in response to the regional channel control signal, saidDSLAM switching the multicast channels broadcasted to the user duringthe specified first period of time from the first national channel tothe first regional channel such that the first regional channel is in aspecific channel slot of the first national channel during the specifiedfirst period of time during said broadcasting the multicast channels tothe user, wherein broadcasting any channel means broadcasting televisioncontent on said any channel, and wherein receiving a broadcast of saidany channel means receiving a broadcast of said television content onsaid any channel.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the SRC server islocated external to the headend.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein theSRC server is located at middleware equipment, and wherein the regionalchannel control signal is received by the DSLAM from the SRC server viaa network.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the SRC server is locatedat the DSLAM.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the multicast channelsinclude a second regional channel, and wherein the method furthercomprises: said DSLAM receiving from the user a first request tobroadcast to the user the second regional channel during a specifiedsecond period of time to replace the first regional channel that waspreviously scheduled to replace the first national channel to bebroadcast to the user during the specified second period of time; inresponse to said DSLAM receiving the first request, said DSLAM sendingto the SRC server a second request requesting that the second regionalchannel be broadcast to the user during the specified second period oftime; and after said sending the second request, said DSLAM receivingfrom the SRC server a return message comprising information forimplementing the second request.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein theinformation in the return message comprises an identification of aMobile Subscriber ISDN Number (MSISDN Number) on which the secondregional channel is to be broadcast to the user during the specifiedsecond period of time, and wherein the method further comprises: saidDSLAM broadcasting the second regional channel to the user during thespecified second period of time over a unicast channel corresponding tothe MSISDN Number.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the multicastchannels include a plurality of regional channels that comprise thefirst regional channel, wherein the regional channel control signalcomprises a SRC DSLAM table comprising rows and columns, wherein eachrow of the SRC DSLAM table corresponds to a different regional channelof the plurality of regional channels, and wherein the columns of theSRC DSLAM table comprise: a location column identifying a location ofeach regional channel; a DSLAM identifier column comprising an InternetProtocol (IP) address of the DSLAM; a main channel identifier columncomprising an Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) address of amain channel; a regional address column comprising a regional channelIGMP address of each regional channel; a time period column comprising astart time and a duration of a session for broadcasting each regionalchannel, wherein the time period column includes the specified firstperiod of time during which the first regional channel is to bebroadcast to the user instead of the first national channel; and an online switch status column which indicates whether each regional channelis off or on.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the columns of the SRCDSLAM table consist of the location column, the DSLAM identifier column,the main channel identifier column, the regional address column, thetime period column, and the on line switch status column.
 9. The methodof claim 7, wherein the method further comprises: said DSLAM generatinga DSLAM client table by extracting from the SRC DSLAM table the mainchannel identifier column, the regional address column, the time periodcolumn, and the on line switch status column, and wherein the columns ofthe DSLAM client table comprise the main channel identifier column, theregional address column, the time period column, and the on line switchstatus column.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the columns of theDSLAM client table consist of the main channel identifier column, theregional address column, the time period column, and the on line switchstatus column.
 11. A system, comprising a digital subscriber line accessmultiplex (DSLAM), said DSLAM configured to implement a method ofbroadcasting a regional television channel to a user, said methodcomprising: said DSLAM receiving a broadcast of multicast channelsintended for delivery to the user, said multicast channels including aplurality of national channels and a first regional channel, saidmulticast channels having been broadcast simultaneously from a headendbeing received simultaneously by the DSLAM; said DSLAM broadcasting themulticast channels to the user; said DSLAM receiving, from a SwitchRegional Channel Server (SRC Server), a regional channel control signalspecifying a broadcast during a specified first period of time of thefirst regional channel instead of a first national channel previouslyscheduled to be broadcast to the user during the specified first periodof time; and in response to the regional channel control signal, saidDSLAM switching the multicast channels broadcasted to the user duringthe specified first period of time from the first national channel tothe first regional channel such that the first regional channel is in aspecific channel slot of the first national channel during the specifiedfirst period of time during said broadcasting the multicast channels tothe user, wherein broadcasting any channel means broadcasting televisioncontent on said any channel, and wherein receiving a broadcast of saidany channel means receiving a broadcast of said television content onsaid any channel.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the SRC server islocated external to the headend.
 13. The system of claim 11, wherein theSRC server is located at middleware equipment at an internet serviceprovider, and wherein the regional channel control signal is received bythe DSLAM from the SRC server via a network.
 14. The system of claim 11,wherein the SRC server is located at the DSLAM.
 15. The system of claim11, wherein the multicast channels include a second regional channel,and wherein the method further comprises: said DSLAM receiving from theuser a first request to broadcast to the user the second regionalchannel during a specified second period of time to replace the firstregional channel that was previously scheduled to replace the firstnational channel to be broadcast to the user during the specified secondperiod of time; in response to said DSLAM receiving the first request,said DSLAM sending to the SRC server a second request requesting thatthe second regional channel be broadcast to the user during thespecified second period of time; and after said sending the secondrequest, said DSLAM receiving from the SRC server a return messagecomprising information for implementing the second request.
 16. Thesystem of claim 15, wherein the information in the return messagecomprises an identification of a Mobile Subscriber ISDN Number (MSISDNNumber) on which the second regional channel is to be broadcast to theuser during the specified second period of time, and wherein the methodfurther comprises: said DSLAM broadcasting the second regional channelto the user during the specified second period of time over a unicastchannel corresponding to the MSISDN Number.
 17. The system of claim 11,wherein the multicast channels include a plurality of regional channelsthat comprise the first regional channel, wherein the regional channelcontrol signal comprises a SRC DSLAM table comprising rows and columns,wherein each row of the SRC DSLAM table corresponds to a differentregional channel of the plurality of regional channels, and wherein thecolumns of the SRC DSLAM table comprise: a location column identifying alocation of each regional channel; a DSLAM identifier column comprisingan Internet Protocol (IP) address of the DSLAM; a main channelidentifier column comprising an Internet Group Management Protocol(IGMP) address of a main channel; a regional address column comprising aregional channel IGMP address of each regional channel; a time periodcolumn comprising a start time and a duration of a session forbroadcasting each regional channel, wherein the time period columnincludes the specified first period of time during which the firstregional channel is to be broadcast to the user instead of the firstnational channel; and an on line switch status column which indicateswhether each regional channel is off or on.
 18. The system of claim 17,wherein the columns of the SRC DSLAM table consist of the locationcolumn, the DSLAM identifier column, the main channel identifier column,the regional address column, the time period column, and the on lineswitch status column.
 19. The system of claim 17, wherein the methodfurther comprises: said DSLAM generating a DSLAM client table byextracting from the SRC DSLAM table the main channel identifier column,the regional address column, the time period column, and the on lineswitch status column, and wherein the columns of the DSLAM client tablecomprise the main channel identifier column, the regional addresscolumn, the time period column, and the on line switch status column.20. The system of claim 19, wherein the columns of the DSLAM clienttable consist of the main channel identifier column, the regionaladdress column, the time period column, and the on line switch statuscolumn.